Curtain-shade circuit-closer



J. HAVRAN. cumm sums cmcun CLOSER.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 1:8, I916- 1,392,641, Patented Oct. 4, 1921.

- 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

INVENTOR WITNESSES 20 25 I \M w .9 Jbhn' Haw rm ATTORNEY J. HAVRAN.

CURTAIN SHADE CIRCUIT CLOSER.

, APPLICATION FILED OCT. I8, I9I6. 2 41 I r Patented Oct. 4, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- INVENTOR ATTQRNEY (UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. I

. J'OH N HAVRAN, 0F PORTLAND, OREGON.

CURTAIN-SHADE CIRCUIT-CLOSER;

To all '10 710m it may concern I Be it known that I, JOHN HAVRAN, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Portland, in the county ofMultnomah and State of Oregon. have invented certain new and usetul Improvements in (lurtain shade' (5ircuit-tlosers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has relation to electric circuit closers conjunctively utilizable as shade roller brackets, and'the nature and objects thereof will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which it appertains in the light of the-following explanation of the iLOCOIDpilIiYlIl'g drawings, 1llus--,

trating what I now believe to be the preferred embodiment, or mechanical expres-v sion. oi? my invention, from among other "forms and arrangements within the spirit thereof, or the scope of the appended; claims. lilowever, an object ofthe inventionis to narwde an electric cn'ciutcloser in the torm or? a supportingbracket for a. shade roller.

said lnracket being disposedin circuit with an audible signal and a source of current wherebyrotation of the shaderoller due to the lowering or raising of the same by unauthorized persons results in the energize tion of the circuit andthe consequent sound of the shade has-taken place.

Another objectthe. invention is to pro-- vide a shade roller bracket having the above named characteristics which is adapted to be securedto theside face of a window casing.

A still further object. of my invention is to provide in combination with one rennet circuit closer shade roller bracket, a closed 11121). be broken resulting in the consequent energization of the local'circuit and the sounding ot' the signal, V

A. still further object of the invention is to provide another form of shade roller bracket havin the above named character-v istics and an improved trunnion associated with said bracket andladapted for use in connection with the ordinary type of shade roller in place of the ,usually cylindrical I trunnion, Wherebyuponrotation of the roller 7 H giving notice to the occu-'-; pants off the. dwelling that such movement Spe n of Letters a en 7 Patented Oct. 4;, 1921. Application filed October 18, 1916. Seria1-No.. 126,391.

due to movement of the shade,the contact may be created through the trunnion.

In addition to the foregoing, my inven-.

tion comprehends improvements in the details otconstructmn and arrangementof the correlated parts to be hereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed out in.

the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings in which similar and corresponding partsare desig natedby the same characters-0t reference throughout the several views in which they,

Fig. 2, is adetail view of the ring onthe; shade for reta ning the same-in lowered pof sition, and the manner of its use.

1 1g. 3, 1s a detail view. of a button used iuconnect-ion wlth the ringot'Fig. 2.

Fig. .4, is an end Yview of the bracket for.

supporting the cylindrical trunnioir and containing the contacts.

.I l ig. 5, is a section on line 5--5 fotFig. 4.

Fig. 6.,'is a viewot one of the insulating, pl a Fig. 7, is a view ofa, form of contact plate.

kets for supporting the angular trunnion of the shade roller.

Fig. 9, is a sectionjon the :line 9.tl

Fig. 8.

Fig. 1Q, is a view of one ot the. plates tormlng apart of.- thebracketrshown in Fig; 8.; i a V Fig. 11. is a view'ota plate similar to the plate shown in Fig. 10. I

Fig. 12. is a side view of one shade roller; I i

Fig. 13, a diagrammaticView illustrating a pair 'ot relays and'associated wiring and an audible signal, in connection with one tornr of circuit closer shade roller bracket, illustrating the operation. of the closed circuit system. i

1F ig. 1.4:. is a View in side elevationof one of the end brackets for supporting the train nion of a shade roller, and having means for preventing longitudinal movement of the shade roller thereby preventing the possibility of accidental electrical contact,

end o'f'the I Fig. 8, is an end view of one of the brack- Fig. 15, is a view in side elevation of a, further modified form of contact circuit closing shade roller bracket for use in con nection with an open circuit system of wiring. V i H Fig. 1G, is a view in side elevation of a still further modified form of bracket for use in connection with a closed circuit system of wiring, bein of the t-ype de igued to be secured to the side tacings of the window frames.

Fig. 17 is a vertical section on the line 17l7 of Fig. 1G.

Figs. 18 and 19 respectively, are views in elevation oi the insulating and metallic disks employed in connection with that form of bracket illustrated in Fig. 16.

Fig. 20, is a still further modified form of shade roller supporting bracket designed for use in connection with a closed circuit system of wiringand of the type designed to be securedto the side facing of a window frame.

Figs. 21 and 22 respectively are views in elevation oi": the insulating 'and metallic disks forming a part of he bracket shown in Fig 20.

Fig. 23, is a view in front elevation of a bracket designed to be se-curedto the side facing of a window frame for supporting the opposite end of the shade roller from that end associated with the circuit closing bracket andadapted to preclude longitudinal movement of the shade roller.

l'Vith referenceto the drawings 1 indicates a shade, supported upon a shade roller 2 having an angular, and a cylindrical trunnion designated t-l and l respectively. The angular trunnion 3 is supported in a bracket which comprises an attaching portion 5., and

an extension 6, conforming very closely to the form of such brackets at present in use, but provided with aseries of circular plates 7 secured to the extension by means ofthreaded or the like. fastenings 8, and hav ing a central. angular opening 9, adapted to lGtQlVQ the trunnion-3 oi the shade roller. This trunnion may be engaged in the open ings 9 of the plates by passing the trunnion through a slot 10 radially provided in the disks or plates, and intersecting said openings. A plate 11 is disposed between adjacent pairs of the/ plates T, and is provided with an angular'opening 12, similar to the opening 9,'but* slightly shorter in length, as theresult ofwhich an edge13 is defined at the lower portion of the opening 9, for engaging a notch l-l in the angular trunnion 3. This edge is clearly shown in Fig. 8.

'Thecylindricaltrunnion is supported in a bracket having-an attaching portion 15, and an extension 16 similar to brackets 01 thiskind heretofore provided and having a central opening 17. A circular diskot insulation 18 is disposed-in contact with the extension 16, and is provided with an open ing centered for registration with the opening 17. A disk19 is next disposed in en gagement with the disk of insulation and is provided with a central openin 20, for registration with the openings mentioned before, the opening 20 however having a horizontal flattened portion 21. A second disk of insulation 22 is disposed against the disk 19 and has a central opening similar to the disk 18 and finally an outer disk 23 is provided which conforms in shape and size to the adjacent disk and has a central opening. These disks are secured to the extension of the bracket 16 by means of threaded, or the like fastenings 24, ex tending through openings in said disks, the openings in the disk 19 being slightly enlarged to permit the insertion of insulatin bushings 25 around the fastenings.

It will be observed, upon reference to Figs. l'and 5 that the central. opening 20 is wider than the central opening in the disk and that the central circular openings, in the disks l8 and '22, of tlldll'lSUltltlOll, are enlarged so'that the trunnion can never come in contact with any part of the insulation. It will be observed also, that said central circular opening in the outer disk 23 is large enough to permit "loose play therein of the trunnion l. i V

A continuous ringing bell'26 is connected by a lead 27 to a binding post 28, whichis electrically connected to the disk 19, and a lead 29 extending "from the bell is connected through a battery 30, to the attaching portion 15, or the bracket. i

In the operation of this form of my invention, the shade is pulled down and when lowered to thedesired position, the pawls forming a part of the well known roller shade construction should be out otengagement with the ratchet, and while the shade is under strain caused by the spring within the shade roller, :1 ring 31, connected to the lower edge of the shade by means oi a cord, is engaged upon a button 32, having a'pcnetrating element 33, whereby the button may be secure'd to the wall at the required position to properly locate the shade. In this position of the shade, the cylindrical trunnion t, should be disposed within the openings in the plates 19 and 23, and resting upon the'flattened portion 21, so that the trunnion remains out oi contact with the plate 23. This is accomplished by first V drawing down the shade to the position desiredor until the ring 31 is brought adjacent the button 32, or slightly below, Upon engaging said ring upon the button the trunnion at, which previously had been moved into contact with one end or the central openingin the disk 23, is now permitted to roll back upon the flat surface 21 of the disk 19, until a central position within the opening is attainedthereby placing the parts in readiness for actuation. In the event that an unauthorized person raises or lowers the shade, the trunnion 4 will be caused to roll upon the flattened surface 21, until contact trunnion to the plate 23, thence to the bracket, through the circuit including the battery, and the bell, and back to the bind ing post. The bell thus continues to ring until a switch or the like (not shown) is moved to break the circuit; It will be obse 'ved that owing to the engagement of the notch 1e, upon the edge 13, longitudinal movementofthe shade roller is absolutely precluded, thereby maintaining the trunnion in'proper relation to the disk 23 for engagement therewith.

For employing a contact closing shade supporting bracket of the form just described, in connection with a closed circuit system oil" wiring, attention is called to an arral'igemcntillustrated in Fig. 13, where- 'n indicates a shade roller having a metallic cap 36 at each end whichare connected by means of a conductor 37. One trunnion 38is mounted in a contact making bracket such as that just described, or one to besubsequently described, and adapted to close electrical communication between the metallic caps 36 and the body portion ofthe bracket through tl e trunnlon 38. The

opposite trunnion of the shade roller may be supported in a bracket such as the form illustrated in Fig. 8 with continuous electrical. contact therewith. Arelay 39 is provided having electro-magnets 40 adapted to attract an armature 4&1 having a resilient contact member 4-2, for engagement with an adjustable contact 43. The adjustable contact 43 and the movable armature ll are electrically connected by means of conductors id and 45 respectively between which however,, an audible signal L6 is interposed inseric-s. A source of current? is also interposed within one of the conductors 45.

A. second relay 48 is provided having electroemagnets indicated at 49 vfor attracting a movable armature 50 having spring contact member 51 adapted by movement of the contact" and53, the contact 53 being engageablc when the armature 50 isattracted by the electro-magnet, the contact 52 conversely" beingengaged when the armature 50 is released, the armature being retainedin said released position'by means of a llght spring 53 associated with a set screw 54 for varying the tension of the sprlng.

The magnets lfland 49 are all connected in series, the free conductor from the mag" net 49 being led to the shade roller bracket for supporting the trunnions 38. A conduc- "the resistance 5 50 to oscillate between adjustable Y tor 56 entendsfrom the said brackets, to the V terminalof a resistance coil 57, the opposite terminal ofsa-id coil indicated at 58 being electrically connected to the opposite roller supportingbracket. Said roller supporting bracket isthen connected by means of a lead 59 to one terminal of a source of current 60,the other terminal of said source of current," being connected by means of a lead M 01 to the" free terminal of the magnet 40. f

In-the operation of thisclosed circuit system, cur-rcntis permittedto-flow continuously through both set of magnets '40 and '49,

owing to the interposition of theresistance 57 in the circuit the current is only sufficient to energize the magnets 40, the current not being sutlicient to energizethe magnets 49,

and the spring 5i thereof held out of cone tact, with the adjustable contact 53. In this The armature 50 of the magnet 4-9 is condition of the system, current flows we will say, trom the source of current 60 to the leads 61 through the magnets 40 and a9, ass1ng through the lead to the right hand shade roller supportingbracket,from

said bracket to the conductor 56 through 7, thence through the conductor 58 to the left hand bracket, and from the same returning-by meanspf the conductor 59 to the source of current 60. The resistance 57 is thus placed in series with the saidrelay magnets. j I

.Vhcn however, the shade roller is rotated by movement of the shade so as to make an electrical contact, current is permitted to 'tiow through the trunnion 38, through the 1 conductor 55 and the magnets 49 and i0, through the conductor 61 to the source of currenh'from thence passing by means of the conductor 59 to the left hand shade roller supporting bracket, from the same to the metallic capv 36, thence through the conductor 37 to the right hand. metallic cap 36 to the trunnion 38. In this manner the resistance 57 is shunted or t-hrown out" of the circuit,

and as the result of this the current is sufficiently increased to energize the magnets 419 of the relay l3, enough to attract armaa ture 50 thereby bringing the spring contact 5]. and the adjustable contact 53 into engagementj It will be noted that the contact 53 is connected by means of a lead 62 to the conductor 44 of the local bell circuit,-the armature 50 being connected by means of a similar conductor 63 to the conductor 4:5 at a point outside thesource of current 4.7, Consequently,- current is permittedto flow from said source of current 47 through the conductor 63, the armature 50, and contact 51, to contact 58, thence returning to the conductor 62 to the bell and back tothe battery 47. The bell is then continuously rung until disconnection of the circuit is established.

An important feature of the foregoing system lies in the fact that it immediately betrays the fact should the instrument or wiring be tampered with or get outoi order, for instance, should any conductor in the main circuit be broken the magnet .40 ot the relay 89 will become obviously deenergized, thereby releasing the armature 41 thereof which drops and makes contact with the adjustable contact l3. As a result of this contact, current from the battery at? is permitted to flow through the conductor 45, through the armature 4-1 and spring contact 42 to the contact ll from thence through the conductor a l to the audible signal do and back .to the battery. The signal is then sounded, and continues to ring until the broken place is discovered and connection reestal'ilished,

or the local circuit broken. 7

As a modified form of roller supporting bracket, for use in connection with open or closed circuit wiring systems, i have illustrated in Figs. 1 1 and 15, a pair of such,

brackets, the bracket oi Fig. let being adapted to support the left hand trunnion of the shade roller, and comprises a body member (it having a rectangular central opening to receive the trunnion and embodying means for preventing longitudinal movement or the roller in the manner carried out in the brackets shown in Figs. 8 and 9. The view of the bracket illustrated in Fig. 14 is substantially a rear face view of the form shown in Fi 13.

In Fig. 15, the right hand bracket is set "forth and comprises a body portion (is having an attaching portion 67 whereby the same may be secured to the front face of the window casing, thebody portion 6% being rounded, and provided with a central opening 68. A disk 69 is secured by suitable :tastenings which may pass through openings 70 to the body portion (Sit, said disk 69 being of insulation and provided with an 'exten sion opening '71 substantially circular for th major portion ot its circumference but is provided at its lower side with a flattened portion 72 which is inclined along a line extending outwardly from the bracket and downward. The openings 68 and 71 are thus disposed out of alinement, and in addition thereto the opening, 71 as aforesaid is provided with a lower inclined flattened head... Therefore, when the rounded terminal is disposed within the opening 71., its natural position would be toward one end of the flattened portion 72, namely its lower end, thereby centralizing the trunnion within the opening 68.

Inth operation ot'this form of bracket,

when the shade is lowered, the trunnion 72 is rolled up the incline and remains in contact with the edge of the opening (58 as long as the shade is being moved downward. When the shade is lowered to its desired distance, it is slightly released, or permitted to move up until the pawls engage their ratchets to retain the shade roller in moved position, and this slight backward. movement permits the trunnion T2, to move down the incline again until it becomes centralized within the opening 68 consequently out oi contact with its edges. Obviously, in this position any attempt to raise the shade would first necessitate a slight downward movement, and this movement would be sutiicient to again roll the trunnion 72 up the incline until it engages with the edge of the opening (38, whereupon an electrical contact is made between said trunnion and the body portion 64 and it these parts are placed in circuit with a signaling arrangement, an actuation thereott will readily tollow.

In the foregoing described form of con-. tact making brackets, it will be noted thatin each instance the circuit through the bracket is normally open, contact being made upon engagement with the trunnion of the shade roller with some other part. This is true even in the case of the arrangement illustated in Fig. 13 wherein the circuit is normally closed. I have however, illustrated in Figs. 16 to 19, views in whole and part of a form of shade roller supporting bracket which is designed to permit a continual flow of current therethrough, the actuation ot the signaling mechanism being initiated when the continuous flow of current as above set forth is stopped. "With this in view, the bracket comprises a base plate 78 flanked at either side with integrally formed ears 74 provided with means whereby the same may be fastened to the inner facing of a window trame. The said member is provided with a central opening 75, and a disk of insulating material 76 is socured to the face of the member 73, by means oi? suitable threaded or other ftastenings 77. The disk 76 is provided with a central opening '78, which is provided with a lower hori zontal flattened portion '79, having at an intermediate point therein a notch 80. The disk '76 is so placed that its central opening is in registration with the opening ot the member 73, and a metallic disk 81 is placed in contact with the disk 76. and held thereto by means of the threaded fastenings 7'7 which penetrate openings in both of the disks T6 and 81. The disk 81. is provided with a central opening 82 quite similar in form to the opening 78 of the disk '76, and also having a lower flattened horizontal portion 83. These disks are arranged with their openings in alinement, as illustrated in Fig. 17. It will however be noted in connection with the disk 81, that it is provided with a ldU - from which it will be noted that it comprises radially extending and normally vertical lug 3 1 which extends into the central opening 82, and said lug is adapted, when the disks 76 and 81. are in. engagement, to exactly cover the notch 80 ot' the insulating disk. In this manner the top face of the lug 9-4: exactly coincides with the level of the horizontal portion 79 of the disk 76 and the disks and :tace portion when assembled preof current, the relay will be continuously energized. The trunnion is disposed in its central position in a manner similar to that employed in connection with the other Forms. viz: by moving down the shade to the desired position, whereupon the trunnion will roll upon the horizontal portion of insulating disk, until the shade is lowered to the desired distance. Upon slightly releasing the shade, in order to permit the pawls of the roller to engage their ratchets or to dispose the ring of the shade upon a button as described in connection with the first form, the shade is permitted to be raised slightly under the tension of its spring whereupon the trunnion rolls back again to a central position. Contact is thus continuously made and current flows through the bracket and trunnion until the shade tampered with, whereupon the trunnion rolls, to either one side or the other as the case may be, the horizontal portion of the insulating disk, whereupon contact is broken and the relay actuated, resulting in a closing of a local Circuit and the sounding of the alarm.

In connection with this form of bracket. abracket for supporting theopposite end. of

the shade roller is illustrated in Fig. 23.

a base portion flanked by integrally formed ears 86 whereby the same may be fastened to the side casing of a window, said body portion having a rectangular central opening 87, intersected by a radial passage 88, which extends from the edge of: the body portion and intersects the central rectangular opening. A disk of metal 89 is provided with rectangular openings similar to the opening in the body portion and a radial opening, said disk being placed against the body portion 85 with the openings in. registration. A metallic disk 90 is next disposed in engagement with the disk 8! said disk 00 having a rectangular opening which however, is shorter in length than the opening in either the disk 89 or the body portion 85,

whereupon an edge 91 is defined, the same being illustrated to advantage in Fig. 23. Another disk of metal. 92,1s applied to the metallic disk 00,-sa1d dlsk havlng acentral opening and radial openings corresponding to the openings in the disk 89 and the body portion 85, and the whole is secured together by means of threaded or the like tastenings 925, which penetrate the body portion of. all oi the disks.

In connection with this form of bracket, the trunnion must be provided with a notch like and for the same purpose as 1a in Fig. 12 and the trunnion is passed through the rectangular opening in the bracket, andthe notch seated over the edge 91.; whereupon longitudinal movement of the shade roller is precluded.

As a further modification of the principle employed in connection with the form of contact breaking shade roller supporting bracket, 1 have provided a formillustrated in liigs. 20 to 22. It will be noted that it comprises a substantiallycircular body portion flanked at either side with integrallyjorined'ears 95 whereby the same may be fastened to the side casing 01"- a window, the said body portion being provided with a central. round opening 96. A disk of insulating material 97 is next placed against the member 9 1, saiddisk 97 having a central opening adapted for registration with the opening 96, but in addition thereto having a lug projecting wjithin the central opening 08 of the disk, said lug being indicated'at 99 and which provides an upper surface 100 which is inclined slightly from the horizontal, and extends from the edge of the opening in a downward direction, and a vertical portion 101, which is disposed to the left hand side of the vertical. diametrical center of the disk. A second disk 102, is provided however, formed of metal, and having a circular opening 103 disposed eccentrically and preferably to the left hand side of the disk as indicated in Fig. 22. Into opening 103 extends a lug 104 which is integral with the disk 202 and has an upper surface 105 whichis inclined to the same extent and direction as the inclined portion 100 of the disk 97, and when the disks are placed in close relation the one inclinedportion forms a continuation of the other. The lug 104; is also formed with a vertical portion 106 which is adapted to coincide with the vertical portion 101 of the disk 97. The disks are assembled and are secured to the memher 9 1 by means of suitable threaded or the like tastenings 107, and the appearance of the device when assembled is substantially that indicated in Fig. 20, from which it will be noted that a trunnion is disposed therein, owing to the inclination of the flat surfaces 100 and 105, the trunnion will have a tendency to rest at the lower portion thereof and consequently normally in contact with the plate 102. In this manner it the trunnion and plate 102 or body member 94- which both are in electrical contact, are placed in series with a relay and a source of current, the relay will be continually energized. lVhen the trunnion is dislodged from its seat by slightly lowering the shade in preparation to raising the same, the contact between the trunnion and plate 102 will be broken, thereupon actuating the sounding mechanism in the manner before described. The brackets and shade rollers of an entire dwelling may be suitably arranged in a circuit so that a movement of the shade of one shade roller will result in actuation oi the -signal.

-VVhile I have illustrated and described my invention with some degree of particularity, I realize that in practice 'arious alterations tliereovcr may be made, and I therefore reserve the right and privilege of changing the form of the details of construction, or otherwise altering the arrangement of the correlated parts without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A curtain shade alarm device including a shade provided with a trunnion, a contact, and a second contact on which said trunnion may roll to engage the first mentioned contact.

2. A curtain shade alarm device including inv combination a shade roller having a trunnion, a bracket to receive the trunnion, contacts insulated from each other mounted upon the bracket and having alined openings enlarged relatively to the trunnion to receive the latter, one of said contacts normally supporting the trunnion out of en gagement with the other contact.

3. A curtain shade alarm device including in. combination a shade roller having a conductor portion, supporting brackets therefor, one of said brackets permitting lateral movement of one end of the shade roller and having contact means engageable by the conductor portion upon such move ment.

4. A curtain shade alarm device including in combination a shade roller having a trunnion at each end, supporting brackets there for, one trunnion of the shade roller having a notch, a projection on its supporting bracket engaging the notch to prevent longi tudinal movement of? the shade roller. and a. circuit closer in the path of the remainiu; 1' trunnion oi the shade roller and closzble by movement of the said trunnion.

A curtain shade alarm device including in combination a shade roller having a conductor portion, supporting brackets therefor, one of said brackets permitting lateral movement of the shade roller and having contact means engageable by the coi'iductor portion, alarm circuit means closable by the engagement of said portion with the contacts, a depending lug on the other trunnion and means on the other bracket to engage the lug to prevent longitudinal movement of the shade roller.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN HAVRAN. lVitnesses Baron E. LEONARD, JOHN MANNING. 

